Lesson plan

Fossils

Summary
Look at real fossils. Learn how fossils are formed and found in sedimentary rock.
Science content
Biology: Evolution, Natural Selection (7)
Earth/Space: Rock cycle, Earth Materials, Natural resources (5)
Procedure

Look at real fossils.

Fossils are sometimes formed when living things get trapped in layers of sediment. If the living thing does not rot, as the layers of sediment pile up, their body is replaced by rock, or they leave an imprint in rock.
If those sedimentary layers are later uplifted, the fossils can come near enough to the surface for us to find them. The age of the fossil is dated by the age of the rock layers it is found in.
The sedimentary uplifting activity shows how fossils trapped in sedimentary layers are later uplifted to the surface.

Grades taught
Gr 2
Gr 3